Photography articles by Phil McDermott – Isle of Mull photographer, commercial photography, wedding photography and personalised Isle of Mull photography workshops. All these photography articles offer information, tips and advice on photography and related subjects, hope you enjoy them.
Photo trip to Ben More
Ben More, the highest point on the Isle of Mull is the only Hebridean Munro outside of the Isle of Skye and is therefore held in high regard on the island. Its huge bulk dominates the southern half of the Isle of Mull and is clearly seen when passing through Glen More on the road from Craignure in the east to Iona in the west. Whilst there are several recognised ascent routes my personal favourite is from the north starting near Dhiseig on the shores of Loch Na Keal, climbing this route … read the full Ben More article.
Close up Nature Photography
Why close up photography? Without doubt there is something awe inspiring and wholesome in the big view. Every year there are vast arrays of calendars all full of pretty landscape pictures adorning our high street shops. Many we can relate to and one day would like to see for ourselves. Indeed, we are fortunate in this country to be blessed with such wonderfully diverse scenery. From the wide open spaces of the fens to the rugged mountains of Cumbria, Wales and … read the full Close up photography article.
Hilbre Island Photo Trip
Hilbre Island and the Dee Estuary are justly famous for their ornithological importance, particularly during spring and autumn migration.
Located about 1.5km off the northwest corner of the Wirral Peninsula the islands of the Hilbre Group stretch for a little over 2km and between them cover about 15 acres. Easily reached on foot from West Kirby they comprise three islands – Main Hilbre Island, Middle Hilbre Island and … read the full Hilbre Island article.
Patterns in Nature
“Always remember the importance of detail”. I can still clearly hear these words that were repeatedly drummed home by my college lecturer. Whilst they seemed unimportant and irrelevant to me at the time, they have over the years taken on a much greater significance and have become ingrained in my philosophy and nature photography.
This attention to detail undoubtedly brings wonder and is certainly … read the full Patterns in Nature article.
Autumn Photography Ideas
“Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower” ~ Albert Camus (1913-1960). The beauty of autumn is something to behold, rich vibrant colours all competing with each yet forming such a harmonious blend, but it is also tinged with sadness as another year ebbs away. Autumn photography can be spectactular, dominated by oranges, reds and yellows all combining to produce a beautiful tapestry of colour, none more so than when we combine the rich autumnal … read the full Autumn Photography Ideas article.
The Importance of Lighting
The word photography comes from the French photographie and is based on the Greek for light and stylus or paintbrush or graphe (a representation by means of lines or drawing), basically meaning “drawing with light”. With that in mind landscape photography is a combination of drawing light across the land. Light in particular is, in my opinion what the landscape is all about, light is what makes the scene, transforming it throughout the day. The ability to consider light … read the full Landscape Photography article.
Photography Exposure Considerations
Controlling the exposure of our image is one of the most important aspects of photography and fundamental to the principle of our photographic knowledge. To really master photography exposure we must move away from the auto settings on our cameras and enter what the manufacturers call the creative controls.
Photography exposure is simply a relationship, it is controlled by 3 things – the ISO … read the full Photography Exposure article.
A Practical Approach to Landscape Photography
In this article we will look at a landscape photography field trip, describing each stage from initial preparation to the final image; some is obvious, some less so.
Generally I start by selecting a location, (if this is a new area I like to contact the local Tourist Info Centres for leaflets, etc). I then use the 1:25000 Ordnance Survey map of the location to target a particular area. Consider … read the full Landscape Photography article.
Thoughts on Photography Composition
Photography images are made by you the photographer, they are an amalgam of many elements, including your own inner vision, interpretation and aspiration. If any of these elements are missing then the image fails.
When looking at a potential image making opportunity attention to detail matters, with consideration of this attention to detail it becomes easier to understand that … read the full Photography Composition article.
Choosing your Wedding Photographer
Firstly, congratulations on your forthcoming wedding, we hope your plans are going well and you are looking forward to your big day.
When your thoughts turn to choosing your wedding photographer to capture those special moments for you how do you make the right decision. There are many things you should consider before choosing your wedding photographer so we have compiled a list of the 10 … read the full Choosing your Wedding Photographer article.
Landscape Photography Essentials
All the major camera manufactures produce SLR cameras that can be built into complete landscape photography systems and the build quality is excellent. However, there is often a temptation to stock up on equipment; this particular lens, that particular filter in the belief that it will produce better images or make you a better photographer. To a degree this is true but I would only advocate buying when necessary and buying the very best equipment that your budget will allow … read the full Landscape Photography article.
The Pros and Cons of a Photography Degree
It is not a career that absolutely requires a formal education, but there are great courses being offered in photography by some of the most reputable and well-established universities in the world. If you are an aspiring photographer, you may be at a crossroad in your life as you ponder over the wisdom of spending the next one to four years gaining an education in photography or using them to further your career with practical experience. Of course, each of the … read the full Photography Degree article.
The Art of Backlighting – Contre jour Photography
Contre jour is a photographic term meaning “into the light” and contrary to popular belief stunning photographs can be taken when shooting into the light. Whilst this may contradict advice given to beginners to always shoot with the light coming from behind the camera the art of back-lighting or contre jour photography is a technique that can produce wonderful images. However, many photographers are intimidated by the idea of pointing the camera … read the full Contre Jour article.
Wedding Venues on the Isle of Mull
Tobermory, the capital of the Isle of Mull is a popular wedding destination with its view of brightly coloured shops and houses which give a marvelous backdrop to your wedding photography. There are a few popular venues here including the Registry Office situated within the County Buildings in upper Tobermory, nearby is the Western Isles Hotel with panoramic views across Tobermory Bay and the Sound of Mull. A few miles outside of Tobermory is … read the full Wedding venues on the Isle of Mull article.
About the Isle of Mull
‘An’t Eileann Mhuileach… of Isles the fairest’ are the opening lines of the song by Dugald MacPhail, Mull’s famous bard and describe the island as the most beautiful of the Hebridean isles.
It is the second largest island in the Inner Hebrides covering more than 225000 acres with over 300 miles of indented and rugged coastline.
The weather can be changeable, indeed locals say it is possible to experience … read the full About the Isle of Mull article.
Photography Articles Information
All the above photography articles are copyright Phil McDermott unless attributed otherwise – please respect our copyright, thank you.
